Mercedes Half Marathon Recap (Weekend Update)

Hi, everyone!  I hope your week will be fantastic.

I spent Saturday morning doing the usual chores and grocery shopping.  I left for Birmingham in the  afternoon and arrived at the Mercedes expo fairly late.  Packet pickup was quick and easy.  There seemed to be more vendors than last year and I bought another skirt, hoping it would match my Half Fanatic sleeves (yes, it's truly a sickness).  I did not sleep well Saturday night and Sunday dawned rainy and gloomy.  I am energized and motivated by sunlight and felt rather lethargic.

A red tech shirt is rare!

It was fun to match the person with their blog and meet Pam from Herbie on the Run.   After having issues with her hip, and a very stressful Saturday traveling to Birmingham, she had a great race.  She inspires me to eventually run in all 50 states.  My local Half Fanatic buddy Valerie was there.  We will be at the same half next weekend too!

Me, Pam, Valerie and Venus --- all still dry

This is quite the hilly race.   They just keep rolling along with a few longer ones thrown in for good measure.  Due to the rain, the crowd support was less.  I'm still in awe of the number of spectators last year!  There were plenty of water stops - one might say too many, if that's possible.  Also on course were GU, fruit, Gummy Bears, and other random items.

My left knee has been, hmm...not necessarily painful, but...cranky.  I cut back on mileage and abused my foam roller all week.  This race is the first of four H/Ms I'm running on consecutive weekends.  My plan for the first was to be cautious and do it as a training run, hoping for a better race next weekend.

IT RAINED

• My new Under Armour popover rain shell was not water repellent.  Hello, UA?  Did you bother to test this item?  The soaked-through sleeves were stuck to my arms before the race started.
• My shuffle was under my clothes and hard to operate.  My salt caps were deep in my pocket to stay dry.  My cold water-logged hands just wouldn't work.  Is there a magic trick for opening GU with useless hands?
• I spent too much time and effort dodging puddles.
• Both feet cramped because they were wet and cold.  I walked a couple of times to get them to ease off.   I also walked off a side stitch.
• The humidity was 100% - it's not wise to get me started on this topic. 

Pam and me --- after the rain.   The beach towel came in handy.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

• I got to do my favorite thing:  run a half marathon -- at any speed -- in any condition.
• The Girls on the Run chapter gave us bling for our bibs.  I thought that was a cute touch.
• My cranky knee (IT band), that I worried and worried over all week, was perfectly fine.  I kept my stride purposely short and it worked like a charm.
• My shoes did not eat my socks.  That's what happened the last time I raced in the rain. 
• The rain was not torrential.  I've done worse.
• My time WAS more like that of a training run, as planned.  (But, admittedly I'm a little worried as it should have felt easier.)
• I finished strong and uninjured at 2:10:49.  Age Group Placement = 34/190.
• I got a super shiny Mercedes emblem finishers medal.  They gave out colorful beach towels at the finish line as well. 
• The band played Jimmy Buffet and Lynard Skynard while I ate BBQ. Awesome.
• I drank a huge Starbucks on my drive home. 

One last thought...

The weather may not reflect it yet, but my allergies have started acting up which means Spring will soon be here!

Tell me about your weekend!   Do you have any tricks for running in the rain?

Thank you Tara for hosting Weekend Update!  Check out her blog as well as the others who linked up.